Giveaway: Hades by Alexandra Adornetto

Okay, so I know I'm a bit late on the HADES motorcycle (...haha), but it's here.* So watch and enter away for a chance to win this shiny, preeeetty finished copy of HADES by Alexandra Adornetto, kindly offered by the awesome folks over at Zeitghost Media. :)

Trailer URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkmZ2OolNAw 

Links: 
See Alexandra Adornetto on tour this Fall: http://www.facebook.com/penfataletour
Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/AlexandraAdornetto
Macmillan page for the book & author: http://us.macmillan.com/hades

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Summary: 

Heaven Help Her. 

 

Bethany Church is an angel sent to Earth to keep dark forces at bay. Falling in love was never part of her mission, but the bond between Beth and her mortal boyfriend, Xavier Woods, is undeniably strong. But even Xavier's love, and the care of her archangel siblings, Gabriel and Ivy, can't keep Beth from being tricked into a motorcycle ride that ends up in Hell. There, the demon Jake Thorn bargains for Beth's release back to Earth. But what he asks of her will destroy her, and quite possibly, her loved ones, as well.

The story that Alexandra Adornetto built in her bestselling debut, Halo, comes alive in action-packed and unexpected ways, as angels battle demons, and the power of love is put to the test.

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Rules: 
• To enter, please fill out the form below.
** You must be at least 13 years old to enter.
• Open to U.S. and Canadian addresses only
• Contest ends Monday, September 12th at 11:59 EST 
• For more information, please view my contest policy.


*I didn't want to complain up there, but I've been feeling behind in everything lately: blogging (especially reviewing... perhaps expect multiple posts), school, and life in general. Senior year is starting so some of my college and IB-craziness might seep in, but I'll try to keep it to a minimum. //end sobfest *hugs*

2-yr Blogoversary Giveaway Button (aka extra entries)

Ack, sorry, trigger finger on the "publish" button.

I'll actually be back with some mini-reviews on Saturday. This Saturday, I promise. Expect at least one review of these TODAY releases: THE PREDICTEDS by Christine Seifert, WITCH SONG by Amber Argyle, and ASHES by Ilsa J. Bick -- happy book birthday! I'm also considering reviewing SIRENZ and CHAIN REACTION. If you really want a review of any of these, let me know. :)

As for what this post is really about: extra entries into my 2-year blogoversary giveaway through button posting! Any decent-sized giveaway or entry just feels weird without a button and after about a week, I couldn't resist the urge anymore.

OR my secret, persistent desire for a rainbow button. With unicorns.

So ta-dah! (I've provided the code for easy sidebar-ing, but if it doesn't work, please give me a heads up.)

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://booksatmidnight.blogspot.com/2011/08/2-year-blogoversary-giveaway.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family:inherit;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfzS5FFj2bIjL_qYl2jz4ukxwTb2wm17ar_BJb_Wny1LIVRcWZuwLu08gW6HxZtr_tPEm8HVUM9ze8LPBE7xPC8afkcBn0C8lKELZj6fdzbL7T1jZ4DUMBCUpMcst9y359nWmBhn-ObY9/s320/2yr+giveaway+button.jpg" t8="true" border="0" /></span></a></div>

I know, I know, not very pro-looking, but IT'S A UNICORN. IT'S RAINBOW. My deepest wish has been fulfilled (and I swear it's now out of my system, for good... maybe).

Grabbed it? Let me know with the form below so I can give you your FIVE EXTRA ENTRIES. 'Cause unicorns and rainbows are worth that much.

Giveaway: Dark Souls by Paula Morris

Thanks to Big Honcho Media, I have two copies of DARK SOULS by Paula Morris to giveaway to TWO lucky winners!

Paula Morris is the author of Ruined, and has published several novels for adults in her native New Zealand. She has lived in a number of cities around the world, including York, England. She now lives in Glasgow, Scotland, and teaches creative writing at the University of Stirling. Visit her online at www.paula-morris.com.

For more info on Paula Morris and all things DARK SOULS, visit www.facebook.com/thisisteen.  

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Summary: 

Welcome to York, England: the most haunted city in the world.

Miranda Tennant arrives in York with a terrible, tragic secret. She is eager to lose herself amid the quaint shops, hoping she won’t run into the many ghosts who supposedly roam the cobblestone streets. Then she meets Nick, an intense, dark-eyed boy who knows all of York’s hidden places and histories. Miranda wonders if Nick is falling for her, but she is distracted by another boy -- one even more handsome and mysterious than Nick. He lives in the house across from Miranda and seems desperate to send her some sort of message. Could this boy be one of York’s haunted souls? 

Soon, Miranda realizes that something dangerous -- and deadly -- is being planned. And she may have to face the darkest part of herself in order to unravel the mystery -- and find redemption. 

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Rules: 
• To enter, please fill out the form below.
** You must be at least 13 years old to enter.
• Open to U.S. addresses only
• Contest ends Monday, September 12th at 11:59 EST 
• For more information, please view my contest policy.

2-Year Blogoversary Giveaway! ♥

GUYZ. How many times have you already heard me say I love you? Answer: Way too many. Is it possible to die from love overdose? 'Cause, if so, I may just have to commit mass homicide.

It's 2 years. TWO YEARS. 2YRS. Despite my short attention span and sporadic posts, I'm still here. Why? Because of you. Quick shout-outs to some special peeps:

Aly -- If not for your shoves pushes loving nudges, I might not have returned from my super long break earlier this year. ♥

Sandy -- We are two halves of one alien. I swear.

Audrey -- You're AWESOMESAUCE. The not-from-concentrate kind.

Cara -- You are destined for great things. In NY, you hipster. B)

So, so many more. But if I compiled a list of everyone that inspires me and brightens my day, my list would rival Santa's. Really.

Sorry I'm spouting off on so many tangents, but it's still so unbelievable to me. That the blogosphere has witnessed my progression from a measly little 14-year old to the 16-almost-17-year old I am now. That's going to enter college and the gates of adulthood. The blogosphere's been like my... godmother for the past two years, and Books At Midnight is such a huge part of my life, I don't know what I'd do without it. Without you. Who knows what teen angst I would have gone through if I didn't have you 10, 100, 1000 people listening to me.

... I know. I'm also kind of creeping myself out with all the mushy feelings pouring onto this post right now. *gets teary* I'll save it for the Oscar's, sorry.

Anyways *dabs tears*, I know you didn't tune in to have a heart-to-heart. So shall we move onto the giveaway? :3

I'm offering up two prizes, one for each of my blogging years:

PRIZE ONE --  a preorder of one of the following books

Open Internationally

---♥---

PRIZE TWO -- a box of 2011 books, one for each month

Open to U.S. addresses only, unless you are willing to pay for shipping

January – Trickster’s Girl by Hilari Bell (ARC)

February – Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

March –Sean Griswold’s Head by Lindsey Leavitt (ARC)

April – The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

May – Instructions for a Broken Heart (ARC)

June – Legacy by Cayla Kluver

July – Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep

August – Lie by Caroline Bock (ARC)

September – Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan (ARC)

& various signed bookmarks and other swag

Ta-dah! Hopefully you see something you like there. On the form, I've offered the option to only be considered for one prize if you'd like. Reminder: You don't need to live in the United States, I just need to be able to ship to a US address. So if you have a US friend who's willing to ship it to you, that also works. :)

Annnnnd, since I love pretty numbers, if my follower number somehow shoots up to 1234, I'll offer another preorder of one of the above books. Again open internationally.

OKAY, I know I've blabbed enough, so fill out THIS FORM to enter.

Giveaway ends Friday, September 23rd at 11:59 EST.

To get five extra entries, post the button on your blog! Button code and extra entries available here.

edit// forgot my resolution: I will reply to and comment on the blogs of everyone that comments here. Because I've been so horrible in commenting recently, and it always amazes me when I find a blog that's following me that I didn't know about. So SHOW ME YOUR LOVELY VIRTUAL FACES. ♥

Interview & Giveaway: Terra Elan McVoy

Sorry for the eerie silence the past couple days; I just got back from my Missouri trip at 1AM this morning, but I'll be sure to check my email later tonight and put up the last two TFFOS winners ASAP. ♥

Today I have with me TERRA ELAN MCVOY, the YA author of PURE, AFTER THE KISS, and, most recently, THE SUMMER OF FIRSTS AND LASTS. Terra's super sweet and enthusiastic about everything she does, so please give a warm welcome as she discusses writing contemporary YA and her 2012 spring release BEING FRIENDS WITH BOYS (which you can get a blurb of in Terra's blog post).

Very Clickable Links: {website} · {blog} · {goodreads} · {amazon} · {book depository}

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1. How would you describe your writing in one verb, one adjective, and one noun (they don't necessarily have to flow together/match)?
Verb: Delve
Noun: Tootsie Pop
Adjective: Thick

2. Out of the three -- almost four! -- books you've released so far, do you have a favorite?
The problem is, I can’t say! Each book is special to me for different reasons. Pure because it’s my first, but also because the issues in it are important to me. After the Kiss is special because it’s my first novel in poems, and I loved doing that form. The Summer of Firsts and Lasts has a significant place in my heart because it is all about sisterhood. And forthcoming Being Friends With Boys is one I love, because of all the different relationships in it!

3. All of your YA books are contemporary. What draws you to portray the lives and relationships, both romantic and sisterly, of teens?
I’m attracted to real life because I think it is full of incredible detail and drama. There is SO MUCH in real life that is fascinating, and there’s an endless number of ways to look at things. Also, I think that being a teenager is one of the hardest, and worst (and also most exciting and fantastic) periods of life, which is why I like writing about them. There is so much happening when you’re a teenager that is happening for the very first time. Love. Jobs. Driving. Physical changes. Discoveries in school and other places . . . everything feels like it is so intense, because it is! 

source

4. And how do you take seemingly ordinary situations and shape them into riveting stories? Any tips for writing contemp?
This is hard for me, because I am so fascinated, myself, by the every day. Single details are riveting to me, but not necessarily to everyone else. So the key is to remember that there has to be a beginning, middle, and end to your story. Details matter, but the character has to go from here and now, to there, then. There has to be an arc. And you have to create events within the plot that force your character to act and change, even if she doesn’t want to. It’s not enough to write a pretty scene about how she’s feeling. She has to get somewhere with it. There has to be growth.

5. As for all of your book covers, including the new one for BEING FRIENDS WITH BOYS, they seem to share that simple, clean, and cute feel. How much input do you get in the design process, and what are your thoughts on the covers?
I definitely get a little input, but not a ton—and that’s really okay with me. I think if I was horribly against a cover, they’d take that into consideration, but my main feeling is that I’m a writer, not a graphic designer. There are people who have very good jobs that require them to know what looks good on a cover, and I am very happy to let them do their work, because everything’s been beautiful!!

6. Speaking of BEING FRIENDS WITH BOYS, can you give us some hints on what to expect? How is Charlotte different from your previous main characters?
Charlotte is different from Tabitha, Camille, Becca, and each of the Winthrop sisters in that she really isn’t a high-performer. She doesn’t care much about her grades. She isn’t pert and snappy with her appearance. She is just kind of a kick-around girl, and she likes it that way. I think the other girls I’ve written about are a lot more self-confident, while Charlotte —at first anyway— is content to kind of sit back on the sidelines. She’s quietly cool; you have to look close to see it. But then, maybe, she finds ways to let that out a little more . . .

7. Over the course of your "published writer" career, do you feel like you've changed and/or improved as a writer (i.e. your style, character-building)?
I always think I’m improving, but then I find ways in which I’m not! Writing a novel is so hard—it’s hard every time, for different reasons, at least for me so far. There’s always something new you’re learning, something you’re taking on. My best friend and writing advisor says that she thinks my writing improves every book, but I feel like I am always starting from scratch. I think I’ve improved in terms of plot, a little—being able to make it more complex and challenging. But I ALWAYS include too much information, and there’s always a ton to cut out during the revision process. I’m always looking for ways to write sharper, savvier, simpler.

8. What titles would you give if you chose to write a novel in the genre of:
- horror: The Bloodred Face
- science fiction: Two Minutes Till Dark
- paranormal romance: She
- historical fiction: The Pen and the Key

9. If you could pose a question to yourself, what would it be? Answer it! :)
Gosh, I feel like I’m always questioning myself. But one that I ponder a lot is what kind of job I might have if I weren’t an author or Decatur Book Festival Program Director. I sort of always wanted to try bartending, actually, because you’d get so many good stories. And it might be interesting to be a fireman. Or, -woman, I guess! And a teacher. I could definitely have a ball doing that.

Thanks so much for this terrific interview!

Thanks, Terra! Charlotte definitely sounds like my type of girl, and those are some pro "ambiguous-and-seemingly-philosophical" titles. ;)

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Summary: 

Three sisters. One life-changing summer.

Calla loves summer because summer means Duncan. They’ve been best friends for years, but Calla has never worked up the nerve to tell him how she really feels. This summer, the summer before college, is Calla’s last chance.

Violet isn’t much of a rule breaker in real life. But this isn’t real life, this is summer, and Violet is determined to make the most of it. Besides, a little sneaking out never hurt anyone. And sneaking out with James is 100% worth the risk…even though James is completely off-limits.

Daisy has never been the sister that boys notice, but when sparks fly with Joel at the first bonfire of summer, it seems so easy and right. So why is being his girlfriend so complicated? 

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GIVEAWAY

Thanks to Terra and Simon & Schuster, I have one finished copy of SUMMER OF FIRSTS AND LASTS to giveaway!

To enter, fill out the form below. Contest ends 9/6 at 11:59PM EST and is open to US only.

Giveaway: Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith

Thanks to Zeitghost Media and Macmillian, I have one finished copy of LOCKDOWN by Alexander Gordon Smith to giveaway! The premise and the cover are BRILLIANT, and if you're looking for a gritty, unique read, definitely check this one out. :)

(As a side note, I'm trying Rafflecopter for the first time. I think I'm still leaning towards Google Docs, but we'll see. It feels... weird.)

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Summary: 

Furnace Penitentiary: the world’s most secure prison for young offenders, buried a mile beneath the earth’s surface. Convicted of a murder he didn’t commit, sentenced to life without parole, “new fish” Alex Sawyer knows he has two choices: find a way out, or resign himself to a death behind bars, in the darkness at the bottom of the world. Except in Furnace, death is the least of his worries. Soon Alex discovers that the prison is a place of pure evil, where inhuman creatures in gas masks stalk the corridors at night, where giants in black suits drag screaming inmates into the shadows, where deformed beasts can be heard howling from the blood-drenched tunnels below. And behind everything is the mysterious, all-powerful warden, a man as cruel and dangerous as the devil himself, whose unthinkable acts have consequences that stretch far beyond the walls of the prison.

Together with a bunch of inmates—some innocent kids who have been framed, others cold-blooded killers—Alex plans an escape. But as he starts to uncover the truth about Furnace’s deeper, darker purpose, Alex’s actions grow ever more dangerous, and he must risk everything to expose this nightmare that’s hidden from the eyes of the world.

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More about the 'Escape from Furnace' series:
Beneath Heaven is Hell....Beneath Hell is Furnace! Furnace Penitentiary: the world’s most secure prison for young offenders, buried a mile beneath the earth’s surface. Convicted of a murder he didn’t commit, sentenced to life without parole, “new fish” Alex Sawyer knows he has two choices: find a way out, or resign himself to a death behind bars, in the darkness at the bottom of the world.

Escape from Furnace Series by Alexander Gordon Smith includes: Lockdown, Solitary, Death Sentence, Fugitives (Available in 2012), and Execution (Available in 2012).

Links:
Website: www.alexandergordonsmith.com
Become a Facebook fan: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lockdown/126095974414
Macmillan page for the book & author: http://us.macmillan.com/author/alexandergordonsmith

24 Hour Giveaway: Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey

I was thinking about it. It's Friday. It's my last day of my internship. And I'll be going to the post office this weekend. So why not end it with a contest for a book that, honestly, wasn't that amazing for me but might be for someone else?

I don't want to ramble on forever, so the form is below. Fill it out and press the "submit" button if you'd like to win an ARC of HAUNTING VIOLET by Alyxandra Harvey. US only please, and, again, it ends 24 hours from now. As in whatever time this post goes up on the 13th.

If you'd like, here's my review of it. Happy submitting!

Which Beautifully Broken Character Are You? & Giveaway

Brief Interlude: Sorry I haven't really been into blogging lately. I haven't been very inspired in terms of both reviews and post topics, but hopefully I'll get back into it this week. Stick with me for a bit? ):

Hopefully you guys aren't getting too tired of author features yet, because I have with me today SHERRY SOULE, the author of BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN. She created a fun quiz for you all to take and provided some incentive: a chance to win a PDF, nook, or kindle ecopy of BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN. So what are you waiting for? 

Very Clickable Links: {website} · {blog} · {goodreads} · {amazon}


To enter, comment with your quiz result. This contest is open internationally, and ends on August 9th, 11:59 EST.

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Take this super fun pop-quiz to see which character BEST suits YOU and score a signed copy of Beautifully Broken and cool bookmarkers to share with your friends!

Are you a Shiloh or an Ariana?

Are you a quirky, romantic witch with supernatural powers? Or a snarky and outgoing blond with lots of vitality? 

Well, they both love to read, have their own sense of style, and have big dreams for the future—but while they share those things, Shiloh’s tall, and Ariana’s not. Ariana’s got major curves and Shiloh’s super skinny. Ariana hearts Christina Aguilera and Shiloh’s all about the Foo Fighters.

Take this quiz and leave a comment to win a free copy of Beautifully Broken.

1.     You have $50 to spend. Where do you go?

a.      Steve Madden. A girl can never have too many shoes!

b.      Everyday Magick. Stock up on snake blood and eye-of-newt.

c.      Duh! Abercrombie & Fitch

d.      Hot Topic, of course!

2.    It is dinnertime. What are you in the mood for?

a.      Chinese takeout.

b.      Salad and iced tea—please

c.      Brains.

d.      BBQ Chicken Pizza. Yum!

3.    The fog in Whispering Pines is extra thick. What keeps you warm?

a.      Bolero jacket with Lucky jeans and Uggs.

b.      Denim jacket with my skinny jeans and Doc Martens

c.      The fires of hell—so toasty!

d.      Denim jacket with my black pants and converse

4.    What is your dream destination?

a.      Hawaii. Warm and tropical. Plus hot guys.

b.      New York. Architecture and culture

c.      Underworld. One way ticket—please!

d.      Paris. The city of romance!

5.    What’s your favorite footwear?

a.      Flip-flops.

b.      Doc Martens

c.      Hoofs

d.      Converse.

6.   Favorite supernatural hunk?

a.     Dean Winchester—heavy sigh!

b.     Stefan Salvatore—so romantic!

c.     Shadow People

d.     Edward Cullen—bite me!

7.    What’s your favorite TV show?

a.      Pretty Little Liars

b.      The Secret Circle

c.      SUPERNATURAL

d.      The Vampire Dairies

8.    Favorite book?

a.      Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

b.      Revealers by Amanda Marrone

c.      Crowley’s Demon Index by A. Evans

d.      Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

9.   What’s your dream job?

a.      Hairstylist

b.      Architectect

c.      Ghost Hunter

d.      Personal Shopper

10. What pet would you like to own?

a.      Hamster

b.      Siamese cat

c.      Hell Hound

d.      None

11.  Favorite movie?

a.      Gone With the Wind—I like to channel my inner Scarlett.

b.      The Craft—awesome witch movie!

c.      Insidious—haunted houses are uber scary!

d.      Ginger Snaps—werewolves are cool.

12.  What is the best season?

a.      Spring. warmer weather and flowers.

b.      Fall. Halloween!

c.      Winter. It gets dark early…

d.      Summer. Yay! No school

13.  What is your favorite color?

a.      Metallic blue. Duh

b.      Pink. I can be a feminist girly-girl and like pink!

c.      Red, the color of blood.

d.      Silver, it’s sparkly and magical.

If you answered...

Mostly a's: You and Ariana need to hang at the mall!

Mostly b's: Shiloh has a haunted house to cleanse—you free tonight?

Mostly c's: Creatures of the underworld are watching you

Mostly d's: Ariana and Shiloh are your new BFFs!

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Summary:

Thirteenth Daughter. Heritage Witch. Demon Slayer.

They say every town has its secrets, but that doesn’t even begin to describe Whispering Pines. The townsfolk are a superstitious lot and the mystical disappearance of a local teen has everyone murmuring about a centuries old witch’s curse.

Sixteen-year-old Shiloh Ravenwolf is a heritage witch from the Broussard family, a family both destined and cursed. When she takes a summer job at Ravenhurst Manor, she discovers a ghost with an agenda. That’s where she meets the new town hottie, Trent Donovan, and immediately becomes spellbound by his charms.

Finally, Shiloh’s met someone who is supercute and totally into her, but Trent may be the next victim on the supernatural hit list. And Shiloh is the only person with the power to save him. Complicated much?

It sucks to have a destiny, especially since Shiloh would rather spend her summer being a normal girl who worries about clothes and boys, not the supernatural. But she’s never been normal and the stranger things become the more her own magical senses awaken.

With cryptic messages from a pesky wraith, she will begin to understand the mysterious significance of the strange mark branded on her wrist and decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice to protect the other teenagers in town.
Unfortunately, for Shiloh, not all ghosts want help crossing over. Some want vengeance.

Review & Giveaway: My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody

Jessica Brody's website here // $12.74 from {amazon}
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (June 7, 2011)
Hardcover: 320 pages
Source: Publisher (ARC)
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Summary: 

 

PLEASE READ THIS! MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!

Okay, maybe that was a bit melodramatic, but I’m sorry, I’m feeling a bit melodramatic at the moment.

Here’s the deal. My name is Brooklyn Pierce, I’m fifteen years old, and I am decisionally challenged. Seriously, I can’t remember the last good decision I made. I can remember plenty of crappy ones though. Including that party I threw when my parents were out of town that accidentally burned down a model home. Yeah, not my finest moment, for sure.

But see, that’s why I started a blog. To enlist readers to make my decisions for me. That’s right. I gave up. Threw in the towel. I let someone else be the one to decide which book I read for English. Or whether or not I accepted an invitation to join the debate team from that cute-in-a-dorky-sort-of-way guy who gave me the Heimlich Maneuver in the cafeteria. (Note to self: Chew the melon before swallowing it.) I even let them decide who I dated!

Well, it turns out there are some things in life you simply can’t choose or have chosen for you—like who you fall in love with. And now everything’s more screwed up than ever.

But don’t take my word for it, read the book and decide for yourself. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll scream in frustration. Or maybe that’s just me. After all, it’s my life.

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My Thoughts:  

If you’re thinking MY LIFE UNDECIDED sounds like just about every other chick lit, then, hey, great minds think alike. The only reason I read MY LIFE UNDECIDED can be summed up in one word: blogging (which, FYI, is pretty freaking awesome).  So imagine my surprise when I found MY LIFE UNDECIDED to be a novel that, while light and occasionally over-the-top, revealed frank honesty and precious nuggets of wisdom.

If I had to pinpoint what makes MY LIFE UNDECIDED more than another read, it’s definitely the voice. Brooklyn has an undeniably strong 15-year old voice, whether it’s talking about burning homes, the elderly, clothes, or boys. On the plus side, it promises to be extremely relatable to pre-teens and younger teens, especially with a never-ending stream of humor. Some of Brooklyn’s ideas and actions are insane, but with willing suspension of disbelief, they make for a fast-paced and entertaining read. On the other hand, Brooklyn’s often superficial thoughts had me going “Really? Really. MAN UP.” Not out of true irritation, but it’s obvious Brooklyn’s a good kid; she just needs to make the right decisions.

Decisions, decisions. Jessica Brody really touches on the greatest fear and the greatest power that most, if not all, teens have – or anyone for that matter. In MY LIFE UNDECIDED, Brooklyn turns over the decision-making power to her blog readers, which is integrated in an aesthetically pleasing and easily readable format. I don’t want to ruin the story, but ultimately, your decisions are always right, even when you’re wrong. And it’s comforting to have that reminder, that it’s your life and whatever way you choose to live it is right.

That lesson, along with valuable others concerning friendship, forgiveness, and more, are what make MY LIFE UNDECIDED special. Its young voice and exciting plot will resonate with younger readers as it sneaks in some key lessons that even I am still struggling to come to terms with. Overall, MY LIFE UNDECIDED isn’t a contemporary bucketful of tears or fuzzies, but who really cares when you’ve got humor, life lessons, romance, and soul-searching wrapped in a cute package? I’ll take books over buckets any day.

(…God, I made myself sound like I’m 61 instead of 16 in this review.)

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Bottom Line: To quote CoverGirl: Easy, breezy, beautiful! Or just read the last line of my review.

Cover: It's simple, it's cute, and the bling really reminds me of Brooklyn's attitude. I can't say much on the physical accuracy, since there wasn't much physical description in MY LIFE UNDECIDED -- but that's a good thing. Jessica Brody puts just enough detail to satisfy and not enough to bore. (Maybe I've been reading too many epic fantasy stories lately...)

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GIVEAWAY

I have one ARC of MY LIFE UNDECIDED to giveaway, courtesy of Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 

Rules: 
• To enter, please fill out the form below.
** You must be at least 13 years old to enter.
• Open to U.S. and Canada addresses only
• Contest ends Friday, August 5th at 11:59 EST 
• For more information, please view my contest policy.

TFFOS: The Relic Master series by Catherine Fisher Giveaway

To find out more about The Four Flavors of Summer and to view a master-list of all features and giveaways, click HERE. 

Thanks to Chelsy at Big Honcho Media, I have one complete Relic Master set by Catherine Fisher to giveaway! If you've read INCARCERON or SAPPHIQUE, you know who I'm talking about. ;)

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Welcome to Anara, a world mysteriously crumbling to devastation, where nothing is what it seems: Ancient relics emit technologically advanced powers, members of the old Order are hunted by the governing Watch yet revered by the people, and the great energy that connects all seems to also be destroying all. The only hope for the world lies in Galen, a man of the old Order and a Keeper of relics, and his sixteen-year-old apprentice, Raffi. They know of a secret relic with great power that has been hidden for centuries. As they search for it, they will be tested beyond their limits. For there are monsters-some human, some not-that also want the relic's power and will stop at nothing to get it.

RELIC MASTER is a four book series. Each book will be released over four consecutive months this summer:

• Book One: The Dark City, May 17
• Book Two: The Lost Heiress, June 14
• Book Three: The Hidden Coronet, July 12
• Book Four: The Margrave, August 9

Each book will include a piece of the map of Anara, the world of RELIC MASTER, on the reverse of the jacket. Collect all four books and you will have the complete map.
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To enter, fill out the form below. Open to US addresses only. To enter, comment below with your email address.

TFFOS: Dreams of Significant Girls by Cristina Garcia Giveaway

To find out more about The Four Flavors of Summer and to view a master-list of all features and giveaways, click HERE. 

Happy Saturday! I know it's been a load of giveaways lately, but errr... right. More features coming soon. I'm leaving for a week-long Bank of America summit tomorrow, so I'll be scheduling the posts for next week (aka the last week of TFFOS. ):). Have a great weekend~

Courtesy of Paul at Simon & Schuster, I have THREE copies of DREAMS OF SIGNIFICANT GIRLS by Cristina Garcia to giveaway!

Very Clickable Links: {website} · {goodreads} · {amazon} · {book depository}

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Summary:  

Brought together each summer at a boarding school in Switzerland, three girls learn a lot more than just French and European culture. Shirin, an Iranian princess; Ingrid, a German-Canadian eccentric; and Vivien, a Cuban-Jewish New Yorker culinary phenom, are thrown into each other's lives when they become roommates. 

This is a story of 3 paths slowly beginning to cross and merge as they spend the year apart, but the summers together. Through navigating the social-cultural shoals of the school, developing their adolescence, and learning the confusing and conflicting legacies of their families' past, Shirin, Ingrid, and Vivien form an unbreakable bond.

This story takes readers on a journey into the lives of very different girls and the bonds that keep them friends.

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To enter, fill out the form below. One copy is open internationally while the others are limited to US/Canada unless you're willing to pay for shipping (if I had enough money...).

TFFOS: Lie by Caroline Bock Giveaway

To find out more about The Four Flavors of Summer and to view a master-list of all features and giveaways, click HERE. 

Thanks to Jessica at St. Martin's Griffin, I have one finished copy of LIE by Caroline Bock (will be shipped when available) to giveaway! Lies always make for dramatic plots, so read on... ;)

Very Clickable Links: {website} · {blog} · {goodreads} · {amazon} · {book depository}

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Summary:  
 
Everybody knows, nobody’s talking. . . .
Seventeen-year-old Skylar Thompson is being questioned by the police. Her boyfriend, Jimmy, stands accused of brutally assaulting two young El Salvadoran immigrants from a neighboring town, and she’s the prime witness. Skylar is keeping quiet about what she’s seen, but how long can she keep it up?

But Jimmy was her savior. . . .
When her mother died, he was the only person who made her feel safe, protected from the world. But when she begins to appreciate the enormity of what has happened, especially when Carlos Cortez, one of the victims, steps up to demand justice, she starts to have second thoughts about protecting Jimmy. Jimmy’s accomplice, Sean, is facing his own moral quandary. He’s out on bail and has been offered a plea in exchange for testifying against Jimmy.

The truth must be told. . . .
Sean must decide whether or not to turn on his friend in order to save himself. But most important, both he and Skylar need to figure out why they would follow someone like Jimmy in the first place.

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To enter, fill out the form below. Open Internationally.

TFFOS: Love Story by Jennifer Echols Giveaway

To find out more about The Four Flavors of Summer and to view a master-list of all features and giveaways, click HERE. 

Courtesy of Chelsy at Big Honcho Media, I have one finished copy of LOVE STORY by Jennifer Echols to giveaway! I love Jennifer Echols and, believe me, if I could enter this giveaway -- I would. LOVE STORY sounds adorable (as adorable as the Taylor Swift song), and you can read my 2009 glowing review of GOING TOO FAR here.

Very Clickable Links: {website} · {blog} · {goodreads} · {amazon} · {book depository}

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Summary:  

She's writing about him. he's writing about her. And everybody is reading between the lines..

For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions--it's her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family's racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin's college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter . . . so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?

Then, on the day she's sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He's joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin's heart with longing. Now she's not just imagining what might have been. She's writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter . . . except this story could come true.

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To enter, fill out the form below. Open to U.S. addresses only.

Giveaway: Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriott

... I don't know how it's possible but between work, events, and upcoming college stress, I'm even more busy during the summer. GAH. I was going to reserve Sundays during The Four Flavors of Summer event for IMMM/randomness/brain spew, but since I'll be helping out at a pharmaceutical conference all day today (aka 12 hours), I've just scheduled a giveaway. Hopefully no one's too disappointed... <3

What's up for grabs? An ARC of SHADOWS ON THE MOON by Zoe Marriott (UK version). You can find my review HERE. I didn't think it was breathtaking, but I really, really recommend reading it. Really.

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Summary: 

Suzunne is a shadow-weaver. She can create mantles of darkness and light, walk unseen in the middle of the day, change her face. She can be anyone she wants to be. Except herself.

Suzume died officially the day the Prince's men accused her father of treason. Now even she is no longer sure of her true identity.

Is she the girl of noble birth living under the tyranny of her mother’s new husband, Lord Terayama? A lowly drudge scraping a living in the ashes of Terayama’s kitchens? Or Yue, the most beautiful courtesan in the Moonlit Lands?

Everyone knows Yue is destined to capture the heart of a prince. Only she knows that she is determined to use his power to destroy Terayama.

And nothing will stop her. Not even love.

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Rules:
• To enter, fill out the form below.
** You must be at least 13 years old to enter.
• Open internationally
• Contest ends Friday, July 8th at 11:59 EST
• For more information, please view my contest policy.



...

Couldn't resist a bit of randomness. I've been following the NBC show "The Voice" from the beginning and it's finally wrapping up with the FINAL FOUR. *cue spazzing* For me, The Voice > American Idol. Check it out.

Here are some of my favorite, recent performances (skip to 1:10 or so to hear the song portion): 

(I'm not such a fan of her (I think she lacks major stage presence and personal style... please don't bash me), but I love the song and her voice.)

(JUST. SO. AWESOME.)

(This one starts from 0:00. And sorry for the poor quality; I couldn't find a better one. ):)

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND! If you still want to tell me what you got for IMM this week, go ahead. I might not have time to comment, but I promise to check it out. :)

Blog Tour: Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz -- Giveaways!

I'm taking a quick breather from The Four Flavors of Summer to spotlight upcoming YA debut, SPELLBOUND by Cara Lynn Shultz! Thanks to Kismet Book Touring for the great opportunity and you can stop by HERE for the rest of the tour stops. Scroll down for my review and giveaways! :)

You can find Cara on her: {website} · {twitter} · {facebook}

You can find Brendan on his: {twitter} · {facebook}

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Summary: 

What’s a girl to do when meeting The One means she’s cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn’t been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Conner, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she’s irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can’t stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma’s been having the oddest dreams. Visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

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My Thoughts:

Honestly? I wasn’t that excited going into SPELLBOUND. As much as I love me some “rock-star good looks,” there wasn’t much that really popped out at me. New girl attracting the school’s “it” guy, true love reincarnated, and a prep school setting in NYC? What else is new? Actually, Cara Lynn Shultz had a few new tricks tucked up her sleeve...

The first third didn’t do much to prove me wrong. Brendan is hot and all, but he plays the hot-and-cold game à la Katy Perry. And like many YA girls out there, Emma falls for him in that inexplicable and annoyingly-superficial manner. The love-at-first-sight thing is my largest issue with love reincarnated plots and SPELLBOUND seemed to only serve as justification for my wariness. Everything else didn’t get off to a much better start. Emma quickly gets close-and-personal with the ice bitch, the gay friend, and the man ho and proceeds to feel lonely and isolated. Right.

BUT then I saw the light. I saw the sweet, understanding of Brendan and true basis for their feelings for each other. I saw Emma being brave and proactive. I saw then clinging on to that hope. I saw the plot thickening and moving away from an elite prep school and towards the more sinister paranormal workings. SPELLBOUND is definitely one of those books that had me on the brink of sighing in defeat but realy redeemed itself in the latter portion. The plot was fleshed out nicely and I had a hard time putting it down.

What I loved the most was SPELLBOUND's authentic teen voice. Cara Lynn Shultz is spot on with her humor and jokes, so spot on that it feels like I’m talking to a high school friend. The bits of funny kept me plowing through the dark times and shine as one the more memorable aspects of the book.

Ultimately, SPELLBOUND isn't exceptionally amazing, but it’s enjoyable. I didn’t connect that deeply with any of the characters and the ending was slightly anticlimactic, but it was a light, fun read that flowed easily in both writing and plot. And, hey, it's a standalone with a satisfying ending. :)

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5

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GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY

 ·  In order to enter to win a iPod nano  including the Spellbound Playlist and covered in a GelaSkin of Spellbound's cover art, you must collect the pink highlighted words the text messages between Brendan and Emma that are provided each day at the individual tour stops.  The daily words can be joined together in sequential order to create the winning secret message.  Once you've constructed the winning secret message, you will need to enter that message on Spellbound's tour home page .

·  No purchase, affiliation, status as follower to a certain blog or any other association is required to enter.

·  Full rules for the contest can be found at the Spellbound tour home page 

·  Winner of the iPod give-away will be announced on Cara's homepage  on Tuesday, July 5th.

The rest of the tour dates:
June, 13th - The Page Turners / Character Interview , Brendan
June 14th - Candace's Book Blog / Guest Post
June 15th - Baffled Books
June 16th - Hooked To Books /Guest Post, Playlist
June 17th - Truly Bookish

June, 20th - Paranormal Opinion
June 21st - Mission to Read /Interview with Cara
June 22nd - Reading Angel / Character Interview, Emma
June 23rd - Miss Page Turners
June 24th - Books At Midnight

June, 27th - Pure Imagination
June 28th - (Spellbound Book Birthday!) - The Unread Reader special Guest post
June 29th - Bookish Delights
June 30th - Mimosa Stimulus / Guest post
July 1st - writers write, right? /special Guest post

Tuesday, July 5th: Announcement of the big prize winner on Cara's Site!

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 GIVEAWAY

In addition to participating in the grand prize giveaway, I also have the chance to giveaway one finished copy of SPELLBOUND!

Rules:
• To enter, fill out the form below.
** You must be at least 13 years old to enter.
• Open to U.S. and Canada addresses
• Contest ends Friday, July 1st at 11:59 EST
• For more information, please view my contest policy.

TFFOS: Leigh Fallon -- Interview & Giveaway

To kick off The Four Flavors of Summer, I have with me LEIGH FALLON, the debut author of THE CARRIER OF THE MARK. If you haven't heard of her yet, under which rock are you living?! Joking, joking... kind of...

Very Clickable Links: {website} · {blog} · {goodreads} · {amazon} · {book depository}

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1. Can you write a haiku to describe THE CARRIER OF THE MARK?

American girl moves to Ireland

And gets luscious guys and magic galore

Could she want for more?

2. The inside scoop: can you tell us one unique thing per each of the main characters, Megan and Adam, that we don't yet know?

Adam middle name is Liam.

Megan thinks she’s the first Female Marked of royal blood… but she’s not. Ooooh.

3. What's it like writing about Kinsale, a place where you actually live? Is there anything you do/did to get inspiration (i.e. visit certain places)? 

It’s fantastic writing about a place you’re living in.  You can document what you’re seeing, making the imagery all the more real.  I used to go down into Kinsale town and sit on the pier wall looking out to sea and people watching for inspiration. It’s a beautiful and interesting place.

4. How does it feel to get international acclaim (press in both the United States and Ireland) on your debut book? Is debuting anything/everything that you expected it to be?

It feels AMAZING to get international acclaim! Honestly, I never expecting this amount of coverage, I still have to pinch myself when I see the newspaper articles.  Debuting has been everything and so much more, and I’m enjoying every minute of it.

5. Looking on your blog, why would you refer to yourself as an "alien suburban goddess?" (Not that it's not awesome and all. :D)

LOL! My blog has since changed. I’ve gone all fancy now, but I’m still an alien suburban goddess at heart.  You see, I’m living over here in the US at the moment, in this tiny little suburban town in the commuter belt of Boston.  It takes a while to get used to the very different lifestyles that I live here compared to the one I lived in Kinsale.  I used chronicle my more interesting encounters on my blog.  The Goddess thing was my promise to get fit, thin, and healthy while learning to ice-skate, ski and do all manner of things I couldn’t do in Ireland.  I did join a gym and learn to ice-skate, but my road to goddess-dom ended there. LOL.

6. If you were a carrier of any mark from literature, whether it be from a film, novel, comic book, etc. (i.e. HP Death Eater mark), what mark would you have?

Ooooh, I think I’d like a couple of molnija for kicking some bad boy butt in Vampire Academy.  They’d be kinda cool.

7. What's your greatest love, second to writing?

Well there’s my family of course, I’ve got four kinds that torture me.  I adore them of course, they probably come in par with my writing.  I love horse-riding, but I don’t get too much time for it now that I’m in the US. Boo.

8. A few weird questions:

- Why do they call them "buildings" when they're already done building them?

They call them buildings because it’s got a better right to it than builtalreadies.

- Is a metaphor like a simile?

Does it represent me poorly if I admit I read that question as ‘is a metaphor like a smile’? Oh and my answer is. Yes, why it is. *smiles*

- If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?

Most popular girls require friends to be bought, that kind of adulation doesn’t come for free.

9. Finally, what's a question that you would like to post for readers?

If life is like a box of chocolates, which three chocolates best represent you, and why?

Thanks, Leigh! And I'm totally with her on the molnija. ;)

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Summary:  

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. She makes close friends with the girls in her class, her relationship with her dad is better than ever, and she finds herself inexplicably drawn to gorgeous, mysterious Adam DeRis. Adam is cold and aloof at first, but when Megan finally breaks down the icy barrier between them, she is amazed by the intensity of their connection. Then Adam reveals a secret about the magical destiny that will shape both of their lives but also threatens to tear them apart...



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GIVEAWAY

Leigh has generously provided some HALF-BLOOD and CARRIER OF THE MARK swag and a celtic silver book mark -- all the way from Ireland! -- for me to give to you. <-- picture coming soon


To enter, comment answering the question she posed in purple. Then fill out the form below. Open INTERNATIONALLY.